FBI Director Patel plans Russia trip in October; Kremlin paper warns him not to come empty-handed

FBI Director Kash Patel is scheduled to visit Russia in mid-October, a trip described as "unusual and sensitive" by Politico, given the ongoing discord between the U.S. and Russia over the war in Ukraine.

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It’s assumed that Russia has some kind of dirt on the Democrats, and we could provide it, in one form or another, to the American side.

Patel's history includes controversial involvement in Russia-related matters during Donald Trump's first term, particularly efforts to cast doubt on investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. His current role has also drawn congressional scrutiny for eye-catching trips.

Reacting to the news, the Kremlin-friendly newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets issued a warning: Patel should not come "empty-handed if he has a favor to ask." Vladimir Vasiliev of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Arbatov Institute for U.S. and Canadian Studies speculated to the newspaper that Russia might offer "dirt on the Democrats" in exchange for something from the American side.

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At the same time, the Americans might also have something to share, seeing as the Russian side could ask, ‘What do we get in return? or inquire, ‘What do you have to say about this or that issue?’

U.S. officials confirmed Patel's travel plans for Oct. 14-15, with stops in Moscow and St. Petersburg. His likely host is the FSB, Russia's security service. It remains unclear if Patel will meet with Russian leadership or what his agenda will be. The last FBI director known to have visited Russia was Robert Mueller in 2013, who later led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

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better not come empty-handed if he has a favor to ask